Compare towns
Dover vs Wardsboro vs Stratton vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dover | Wardsboro | Stratton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
820 |
532Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Stratton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.